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U.S. Department of Justice
National Drug Intelligence Center
New York/New Jersey HIDTA Drug Market Analysis 2010
June 2010
(LES) The social and economic costs of drug abuse and addiction in the NY/NJ HIDTA region are reflected in an overburdened justice system and a strained healthcare system. According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, there were 31,088 arrests for misdemeanor possessionf of a controlled substance in the New York HIDTA region counties in 2009. (See Table 4 and Table C1 in Appendix C for detailed statistics.) The total number of treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities for drug abuse in New York and New Jersey exceeded 210,000 in 2009. (See Table 5.)
Table 4. (LES) Number of Arrests for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (7th Degree Misdemeanor) in New York Counties of the HIDTA Region, 2005-2009*
| County | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | 504 | 821 | 807 | 557 | 583 |
| Bronx | 6,752 | 6,819 | 8,147 | 7,967 | 7,097 |
| Clinton | 35 | 36 | 32 | 48 | 48 |
| Erie | 2,004 | 2,500 | 2,393 | 2,537 | 2,209 |
| Franklin | 10 | 22 | 26 | 33 | 32 |
| Kings | 7,456 | 7,619 | 8,076 | 7,466 | 7,124 |
| Monroe | 572 | 635 | 615 | 683 | 719 |
| Nassau | 690 | 844 | 922 | 883 | 971 |
| New York | 5,055 | 5,561 | 5,470 | 4,991 | 5,053 |
| Onondaga | 542 | 576 | 697 | 681 | 649 |
| Queens | 2,549 | 2,814 | 2,895 | 2,791 | 2,530 |
| Richmond | 603 | 763 | 953 | 1,412 | 990 |
| St. Lawrence | 62 | 59 | 55 | 59 | 46 |
| Suffolk | 1,911 | 2,231 | 2,295 | 1,999 | 1,929 |
| Westchester | 1,328 | 1,372 | 1,297 | 1,274 | 1,108 |
| Total | 30,073 | 32,672 | 34,680 | 33,381 | 31,088 |
Source: New York Division of Criminal Justice Services, Computerized
Criminal History system (as of January 2010).
*Data for New Jersey Counties of NY/NJ HIDTA are not available.
Table 5. (U) Statewide Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions, New York and New Jersey, 2005-2009
| Drug | State | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heroin | New York | 61,815 | 67,970 | 57,374 | 60,672 | 61,439 |
| New Jersey | 23,367 | 21,408 | 22,180 | 22,958 | 23,497 | |
| Total | 85,182 | 89,378 | 79,554 | 83,630 | 84,936 | |
| Other Opiates | New York | 6,691 | 8,361 | 10,255 | 11,968 | 14,521 |
| New Jersey | 2,203 | 2,692 | 3,477 | 4,131 | 5,221 | |
| Total | 8,894 | 11,053 | 13,732 | 16,099 | 19,742 | |
| Cocaine (smoked) | New York | 36,545 | 38,929 | 33,630 | 29,449 | 25,133 |
| New Jersey | 3,790 | 3,856 | 4,098 | 3,691 | 3,063 | |
| Total | 40,335 | 42,785 | 37,728 | 33,140 | 28,196 | |
| Cocaine (other route) | New York | 15,873 | 18,081 | 16,562 | 14,972 | 12,527 |
| New Jersey | 2,283 | 2,568 | 2,757 | 2,408 | 2,078 | |
| Total | 18,156 | 20,649 | 19,319 | 17,380 | 14,605 | |
| Marijuana | New York | 42,083 | 44,030 | 44,497 | 48,927 | 50,946 |
| New Jersey | 7,053 | 7,537 | 8,181 | 9,611 | 10,819 | |
| Total | 49,136 | 51,567 | 52,678 | 58,538 | 61,765 | |
| Amphetamines (including methamphetamine) |
New York | 704 | 622 | 783 | 693 | 789 |
| New Jersey | 173 | 190 | 203 | 189 | 242 | |
| Total | 877 | 812 | 986 | 882 | 1,031 |
Source: Treatment Episode Data Set, data run date April 1, 2010.
(LES) Analysis of law enforcement reporting and treatment data indicates that cocaine poses the most significant drug abuse threat in most areas of the NY/NJ HIDTA region. Treatment admission data indicate that although cocaine abuse is high in the NY/NJ HIDTA region, the total number of cocaine-related admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities in New York and New Jerseyg declined steadily from 2006 through 2009. (See Table 5.) Cocaine-related admissions in HIDTA counties in New York decreased more than 22 percent over the past 3 years. (See Table C2 in Appendix C.) This decrease may be attributed to reduced cocaine availability that began in 2006. Overdose fatality data from various areas of the NY/NJ HIDTA region further illustrate the cocaine abuse situation. In Nassau County, there were 41 cocaine-related deaths attributable to an accidental overdose--37 percent of the total number (111) of accidental drug overdose fatalities in 2009. In the New Jersey counties of the HIDTA region, 14 percent (38) of the total accidental overdose deaths (271) were attributable to cocaine or crack cocaine in 2009. OCDETF data indicate that 34 of 50 reviewed investigations in 2009 involved cocaine.79
(LES) The abuse of heroin poses a significant threat to the NY/NJ HIDTA region. According to Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) data, the number of heroin-related treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities in the region exceeds that of any other drug. The number of statewide heroin-related treatment admissions in New York and New Jersey remained relatively unchanged from 2005 (85,182) to 2009 (84,936). Heroin-related treatment admissions in HIDTA counties in New York increased less than 4 percent over the past 3 years. (See Table 6 and Table C3 in Appendix C.) Heroin-related deaths are increasing among younger, newer abusers, whose inexperience with the drug may account for a higher percentage of them dying, particularly in Nassau County. For example, there were 31 heroin-related deaths attributable to an accidental overdose--28 percent of the total number (111) of accidental drug overdose fatalities in the county in 2009. In the New Jersey counties of the HIDTA, where heroin abuse levels are high, 19 percent (51) of the total accidental overdose deaths in 2009 (271) were related to heroin. OCDETF data indicate that 48 percent (24 of 50) of reviewed 2009 cases involved heroin.80
Table 6. (U) Treatment Admissions for HIDTA Counties in New York, 2007-2009
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocaine | 32,928 | 29,794 | 25,650 |
| Heroin | 30,756 | 31,650 | 31,910 |
| Marijuana | 33,140 | 36,615 | 38,492 |
| Other Opiates | 4,293 | 5,213 | 6,377 |
Source: New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.
|
(U) Increasing Heroin Threat in Nassau County (LES) Heroin distribution and abuse have increased significantly in Nassau County over the past 3 years. Heroin-related treatment admissions in the county rose more than 30 percent during that time, from 953 in 2007 to 1,242 in 2009. (See Table C3 in Appendix C.) According to law enforcement, the heroin threat increased significantly when prescription opioid abusers in the county began switching to heroin. Some of these new heroin abusers began driving to Brooklyn and Queens to obtain supplies of the drug at a lower price and purchasing larger quantities of heroin for resale in Nassau County, increasing the number of retail-level dealers in the county. (U) Overdose deaths related to heroin also increased significantly in Nassau County over the past 3 years. The total number of heroin-related overdose deaths in the county nearly doubled from 2007 (24) to 2008 (46). In 2009, Nassau County reported 31 heroin-related overdose deaths. Further, these overdose deaths are trending toward a younger population. From 1997 to 2004, the majority of heroin-related overdose deaths in the county occurred among the population aged 31 to 50. In 2005, 2007, and 2008, the majority occurred among those aged 21 to 30 (data from 2009 are not available). (LES) In response to the growing threat, the Nassau County Police Department created a Heroin Initiative in 2008. The initiative is aimed at reducing heroin availability and drug-related crime in the county. It provides for increased law enforcement in core areas when needed, a gun buy-back program, a drug-disposal program, increased information sharing among law enforcement, and an ad campaign to increase awareness among parents. The initiative also supports a database to track the markings on heroin glassine bags. The database has allowed law enforcement officers to track specific neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens that serve as a source of heroin supply for Nassau County.82 Source: Nassau County Police Department. |
(LES) Analysis of law enforcement reporting and treatment data indicates that marijuana is readily available and frequently abused in the NY/NJ HIDTA region. The number of statewide marijuana-related treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities in New York and New Jersey in 2008 (58,538) and 2009 (61,765) were second only to heroin. Marijuana-related treatment admissions in HIDTA counties in New York also increased more than 16 percent over the past 3 years. (See Table C4 in Appendix C.) Of the 2009 OCDETF cases reviewed, 20 of the 50 involved marijuana trafficking.
(U) An increasing number of individuals, particularly younger abusers, are abusing diverted CPDs in the NY/NJ HIDTA region. This is attributed to a mistaken belief that prescription drugs are not as harmful as illicit drugs and to the high availability of the CPDs in the region. Treatment admissions in New York HIDTA counties for "other opiates" (including CPDs) rose nearly 49 percent over the past 3 years, from 4,293 in 2007 to 6,377 in 2009. (See Table C5 in Appendix C.) The prescription drugs most commonly abused are prescription opioids such as OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin,81 which provide abusers with a high similar to that of heroin. Prescription opioid abusers often switch to heroin because of its higher availability and lower price. CPD abuse contributes to a significant number of overdose deaths in the HIDTA region. In Nassau County, there were 75 prescription drug-related deaths attributable to accidental overdoses--68 percent of the total number (111) of accidental drug overdose fatalities in 2009. In the New Jersey counties of the HIDTA 23 percent (61) of the total accidental overdose deaths in 2009 (271) were related to prescription drugs. In both these areas, prescription drugs accounted for more overdose deaths than any other drug.
(LES) Survey and law enforcement data indicate MDMA is abused at low to moderate levels in the NY/NJ HIDTA region. OCDETF data indicate that 10 percent (5 of 50) of reviewed 2009 cases involved MDMA.83
(LES) The threat posed to the NY/NJ HIDTA region by methamphetamine abuse is relatively low when compared to other major drugs of abuse, although the number of abusers is rising. The only jurisdictions in the HIDTA region that reported high ice methamphetamine availability were Guttenberg, New Jersey, and Suffolk County and Tonawanda in New York. TEDS data indicate that although the number of amphetamine-related (including methamphetamine-related) treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities in New York and New Jersey is lower than for any other illicit drug, the number of admissions increased 17 percent from 2008 (882) to 2009 (1,031). Only one 2009 OCDETF case reviewed indicated methamphetamine trafficking.
f.
(U) These numbers are misdemeanor arrests in which the arrestee possessed only user
amounts of an illicit controlled substance.
g.
(U) Treatment Episode Data Set is only available by state, not by county.
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